raerjinx

I hope you did call DSWD and ask about their opinion. But as I previously mentioned, you don't need to worry as you're child is an American-CAnadian CItizen.

If matters come to worst,you can always ask help from the US or Canadian Embassy.

Even in Philippine Family Law, a child below 7 years old cannot be separated from the mother not unless there are compelling reasons why a mother can't have the custody like: Instances of unsuitability such as neglect, abandonment, unemployment and immorality, habitual drunkenness, drug addiction, maltreatment of the child, insanity, and affliction with a communicable illness.

Negligent and careless failure to perform the duties of parenthood is a significant element of abandonment, regardless of actual intention.

If you really want to leave the country, just go with your child out of the country ASAP without your husband's knowing if he's that abusive. That will save you time and to prevent him from filing a HOld Departure ORder from the court which will hold you from bringing your daughter out of the country. When he files for custody of your daughter when you guys are still there in the Philippines, you guys may not travel out of the country when the case is still pending, and a Hold Departure ORder from the Court will be given to the Philippine Immigration.

Hope I helped you in some ways. Good Bless to you and your child.

Try calling the nearest DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) office where you are right now, and ask about the procedure just to be sure.

BUt As far as I know, if the baby's citizenship is not Filipino, or is travelling together with one or both parent/s, or whose parents are immigrants/living abroad with proper documentation, the Filipino immigration officers will not stop you from leaving with your child out of the country.

I remember this since my husband (who was still my bf at that time) and I went to a DSWD office in MAnila, and we requested for a travel clearance [/b]for our daughter. The lady in charge told us that it isn't needed anymore as it is not within their jurisdiction/responsibility most especially since our daughter holds an American passport, even if our daughter travels alone as a minor. Thus, I traveled here to the US ahead of my husband and daughter, and my husband (who is a Citizen) did not encounter any problems bringing my daughter out of the country with him. The Filipino officers did not stop him or ask any questions where I was.

Here is a link of the DSWD website so you can read further what I just mentioned about the Travel Clearance for Minors. http://www.dswd.gov.ph/faqs/travel-clearance-for-minors/

Now, don't be scared by what your husband is threatening you with. If you want to leave with your baby out of the country, do it discreetly and without him noticing it, so he can't hide the baby from you. You are Canadian and your baby holds a foreign passport.

By the way, in the link that I gave you http://manila.usembassy.gov/service/citizenship/first-time-report-of-birth-abroad7.html,

it is stated specifically below that the CHILD must be at the interview. Please read the entire site carefully.

**I copied and pasted a part of the instructions in their website.

Book An Appointment

U.S. Embassy Manila is implementing an online appointment-only system for applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad and Claims to U.S. citizenship. After gathering all required documentation, you may schedule an appointment for an in-person interview.

The child must be present at the interview. Both parents are strongly encouraged to accompany the child.

My wife had my child in the Philippines 21 Days ago, im in America and cannot fly there to be there for the interview because i have work, in a month my wife is going to have her visa interview.

1.Can she get a Certificate of Birth Abroad at the time of the interview?

2.How likely is it that they will ask for a dna test if she shows pictures of us together holding the pregnancy test, also what if the baby is super white compared to her and im super white, wont it be obvious?

3.If they ask for a DNA will they put off her visa interview till shes done with it?

4.Should she pay a family member to be a sitter while she goes to manila and just go her self, get the interview done and do all the Certificate of birth abroad stuff when i go to pic her up?

5. Can she even get one of those certificates without the child in hand?

6.Would they make her come back with the baby if it was back with her family and stop the visa interview till that was finished?

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My husband and I has gone through the same thing as yours. The difference is that we weren't married yet when we applied for our daughter's CRBA. Since you're only 19, it's pretty understandable that processing for her citizenship could be overwhelming.

Now, let me just remind you that since your wife will be the only one be interviewed at the embassy, she should make sure that all the documents needed by the US consul officers are complete or else she won't have her interview that day. She needs to read this link carefully http://manila.usembassy.gov/service/citizenship/first-time-report-of-birth-abroad7.html, and have all of those on hand.

1. At the time of the interview, she wont be able to get the CRBA certificate of your child. When approved, it takes about a month for them to send it to your wife by priority mail. Reviewing your case and putting your child in the US system doesn't just happen in a snap while your wife is being interviewed.

2. PAternity TEst depends on the officer reviewing your application. He/She may or may not require you to have it; If there's enough burden of proof that the child is filiated (blood relationship) with you, then the officer won't ask for it. It really depends on the officer really. No matter how white the child is, or how likely the resemblance of your child to you but if the officer wants a DNA test, you guys have to do it.

3. If she needs the DNA test, she has to come back again for the test with the child, and YOU have to be with them. As you and your child should provide the sample at the embassy. The officer will give your wife a letter stating that a paternity test is needed, and you have to find the nearest DNA clinic accredited by the US Immigration at your place. Here is the link for DNA processing in http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/350862/ACS-Consular_001/DNA%20Information%20Sheet%20_updated%20DEC%2016%20%202011_.pdf

And as for the accredited clinics http://www.aabb.org/sa/facilities/Pages/RTestAccrFac.aspx

*you have to pay about $600 for the DNA kit including shipping from the US clinic of your choice to the embassy, and shipping it back to the US clinic.

You will be given instructions anyways and further information are also given in the website, so I'm not going to go on further with the process.

4., 5., 6. It's better that she brings the child with her at the embassy for her interview. All the applicants that I've seen applying for the CRBA, brought their child/children with them. But your wife may call the US embassy in MAnila about it just to be sure.

**Just read the instructions in the website further as everything is there. YOur wife may need to really read it further as she will be the one who will be at the interview.**